War in the Middle East
Scholz shows “edge” against anti-Semitism
Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the plenary session of the Bundestag. photo
© Christoph Soeder/dpa
The Gaza war is also having devastating effects in Germany. On Thursday night there were again riots in Berlin. Politicians are horrified – and want to act.
After some violent riots and the attempted arson attack on a synagogue in Berlin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced tough action against anti-Semitism in Germany. “A clear edge is required,” said the SPD politician on Thursday in a government statement in the Bundestag shortly after returning from his trip to Israel. You shouldn’t look away.
“Anti-Semitism has no place in Germany, and we will do everything we can to stand against it. We will do this as citizens, as those who bear political responsibility,” said Scholz. At the same time, the SPD politician again called for the immediate release of the Hamas hostages in the Gaza Strip in the Bundestag on Thursday. The Chancellor was praised by almost all parliamentary groups in the Bundestag for his diplomatic efforts. Scholz was one of the first heads of government to travel to Israel on Tuesday.
Riots in Berlin
Despite a ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations, there were again crowds of people and hours-long clashes in Berlin-Neukölln on Wednesday evening. The police spoke of a heated atmosphere on Sonnenallee, which only gradually calmed down very late in the evening. According to their own statements, the officers took action against demonstrators who set fire to garbage cans, tires and pyrotechnics and threw stones, bottles and incendiary devices.
A spokeswoman for the Berlin police spoke of 174 arrests on Thursday morning. 65 police officers were injured. One of them had to end his service. A total of 65 criminal investigations were initiated.
Since the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas on Israel on October 7th, there have been repeated demonstrations by Palestinians and supporters, especially in Berlin, in which some participants cheered the Islamist Hamas. In some cases there were riots. The number of anti-Semitic incidents has also increased dramatically nationwide since the Hamas attack. The Berlin police alone registered more than 360 crimes in connection with the Gaza war.
Investigations after attempted attack on synagogue
After the attempted arson attack on a synagogue in Berlin-Mitte, the public prosecutor’s office has now taken over the investigation. The authority announced this on Thursday and justified this, among other things, with the escalating nature of the attack. The investigation is directed against as yet unknown people for attempted serious arson.
According to current findings, two masked perpetrators are said to have thrown so-called Molotov cocktails in the direction of the Kahal Adass Yisroel synagogue in Berlin-Mitte. The incendiary devices hit the sidewalk near the synagogue. An incendiary device was extinguished in time by police security guards. The second incendiary device was extinguished. The Central Council of Jews spoke of a “terrorist attack”.
Members of the Bundestag horrified by anti-Semitism
In view of the anti-Semitic riots and arson attacks, politicians from the Bundestag factions were horrified. Union parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz said: “If the sentence is correct – and it is correct – that hatred of Jews and destructive rage against Israel must have no place in our country, then a tough crackdown by the police and the judiciary is now necessary.” FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr demanded: “We have to take action. It can’t just be a matter of words.” In the end there must be convictions.